Reviews & testimonials

Reviews & Testimonials

Customer Testimonials

‘Staff LOVE these Pocketbooks, so much so that they are always disappearing from the staffroom shelves. They are so quick and easy to use and absolutely packed full of good ideas that can be used immediately in the classroom. All our Teaching & Learning coaches have been issued with various titles and use them as working manuals.’ (Lynn England, Training & Development Adviser, Brockenhurst College.)

‘May I take this opportunity to say how refreshing and useful I have found publications from the Pocketbooks range. In a profession that is becoming increasingly complicated and jargon-filled, the tone and assertive simplicity is very useful – loved the illustrations too. I recommended relevant titles to student teachers and NQTS I worked with last year and I am informed they had a positive impact on their lessons.’(Martyn Berry)

Read what the press are saying

Teachers’ Pocketbooks Series

‘ …the books reflect a down-to-earth approach and commendable enthusiasm.’ (TES)

‘…an outstanding quick-reference resource.’ (TES)

‘…a series of useful little publications that are strong on ideas and genuinely small enough to carry around for easy reference.’ (TES)

‘The Pocketbooks series marches on. Rightly so, because there is much to be said for short, easily handled books that cut straight to the chase with the aid of bullet points and neat graphics.’ (TES)

‘The Teachers’ Pocketbooks series has established itself as an indispensable source of practical advice.’ (TES)
‘…an excellent series.’ (TES)

‘Do look out for this series which reflects good practice and is also good value’ (NASEN Special)

Accelerated Learning Pocketbook

‘Brin Best has done much of the hard work for you by synthesizing all the current information and practical applications into handy, bite-size chunks.’ (Gifted & Talented Update)

Anger & Conflict Management Pocketbook

‘The first indication that this is going to be a really useful resource is the contents page: clear and inviting. I didn’t want to put it down. Paul Blum’s foreword lets us know he is writing from experience, and his experiences echo mine. Any teacher struggling to work with consequence and reward systems will enjoy reflecting on their own practice using this guide. It will certainly resonate with teachers in large comprehensive schools… I really appreciated the chapter on conflict beyond the classroom but each chapter prompted recognition and an ‘I’ve been there’ feeling.

In short, there was nothing I didn’t like about the book or the approaches recommended to help children manage anger. I’ll certainly be using it for CPD in school, ordering further copies and visiting other titles in the series. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use and comprehensive resource that doesn’t wear you out after a day at work but has clarity and balance at its heart, I would recommend you try this book.’ (NASEN Special)

Assessment & Learning Pocketbook

‘A useful little book… Ian Smith helps readers turn the theory of assessment into practice. We suggest that you buy the book in bulk – qualify for a discount – and give copies of it to all the Ofsted inspectors you come into contact with’ ! (Leadership Focus)

‘Any primary or secondary teacher is likely to find something useful here to stimulate or challenge…a thought-provoking little book…’ (NASEN Special)

Behaviour Management Pocketbook

‘A distillation of practical and philosophically sound guidance on effective discipline. It includes advice on how to avoid confrontation, giving students choices (probably the main weapon in our armoury), and using language appropriately. A first-rate addition to an impressive series.’ (TES)

‘This book aims to provide teachers with a positive approach to managing behaviour and claims to create ‘calm classes and focused, co-operative students’. A large claim for such a small book, but it does seem to deliver what it promises… Packed with easily achievable ideas and solutions that can be implemented into any classroom immediately, the pocketbook provides good advice on how to create a positive learning environment.’ (Teachers magazine)

Challenging Behaviours Pocketbook

‘This ‘little’ book is like Dr Who’s Tardis in that the more you read it the bigger it becomes! Page upon page of sensible solutions, advice, information and facts until you believe that it must be three times the size. For busy teachers this book is a godsend and struggling parents can benefit too. As a bonus it is beautifully illustrated.’ (ADHD News)

‘This little book may be small in size but it is rich in ideas for understanding and managing the three most common behaviour disorders.’(NASEN Special)

Creative Teaching Pocketbook

This is a wonderful book. It’s a pocket-sized compendium of good ideas, lively practice and fun-packed innovation. Written by an advanced skills teacher, it isn’t just a pre-packaged collection of someone else’s charismatic wacky wheezes; rather it has the sense of coming from someone who knows the realities of the classroom. There are hints on organising the classroom, a fine section on revision techniques, and top after tip on how to make your teaching relevant and inspiring. I like the washing-line idea for hanging up quotations and equations, the use of pictures to summarise key points, hangman games to guess the leaning objective and getting students to throw paper aeroplanes with their questions written on. Just check your school’s health and safety policy first. As with all the best books for teachers, the author focuses on the needs of the learner with hints for visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning styles, and practical tips such as bringing in a big alarm clock to teach examination time-management. Advanced skills teachers aren’t always the best people to write books of advice for other teachers; they can demoralise with their expertise. This tiny book is an exception: a wonderful stocking-filler for any teacher near you; an inspiring and funny read; a real gem. (TES)

The Creative Teaching Pocketbook is a delight for all Key Stage 3 and 4 teachers… Watson- Davis provides motivating ideas for the most reluctant of classes in a non-patronising way, which is often humorous, but does not lose sight of the serious side of teaching. His book shows that teaching can be fun and every teacher should gain inspiration and innovative ideas for becoming a more creative teacher. Recommended to all, especially at the price.’ (Managing Schools Today)

Dyscalculia Pocketbook

‘..a good blend of theory, practical advice and tips… would serve as an excellent introduction for practitioners new to the field as well as serve as an excellent summary for more experienced practitioners. Recommended for busy teachers who need to be introduced to a greater awareness of how to assess and teach learners with maths difficulties, and for those who would like a helpful review of the main understandings and teaching strategies thus far recommended for maths difficulties.’ (Patoss Bulletin)

Dyslexia Pocketbook

‘Rarely does one small book hold such a treasure of useful information and teaching tips while remaining simple and practical to use… A goldmine of information.’ (Notts. Dyslexia Association)

‘A useful and accessible way in to a hugely documented subject.’ (TES)

‘An excellent resource.’ (Special Children)

‘This excellent little book is easy to dip in and out of, very readable, very thorough and makes a lot of common sense.’(Professionalism in Practice)

‘This is much more than a book of tips on how to support pupils with dyslexia… it offers huge amounts of advice on how teachers can work towards providing an environment that supports all pupils, but particularly those who have difficulties in learning… A useful and compact source of information that would not only be of benefit to teachers and teaching assistants, but also be a self-help guide to students at college.’ (Special Needs Information Press)

Dyspraxia/DCD Pocketbook

‘This informative, comprehensive and practical guide explains how to meet the needs of this complex group of learners in the classroom environment… the emphasis throughout is to provide education practitioners with practical solutions to support individual pupils in a way that is manageable and quick to implement. The ideas are not costly in time or money but will make a huge difference to the experience of this group of learners in our classrooms. I will keep this book in my ‘pocket’ and dip into it for guidance, reassurance and information as well as recommending it to my colleagues in the staffroom. For busy practitioners it is a must!’ (NASEN Special)

EAL Pocketbook

‘Alice Washbourne’s little Pocketbook may be small but it is mighty. Every page is packed with useful suggestions for teachers, and for TAs, to help learners with EAL to feel valued and to achieve across the curriculum.’ (Learning Support Magazine)

‘This is exactly the book I would want in my pocket if I had just started work in a multilingual school and knew very little about working with learners of English as an additional language.’ (NALDIC Quarterly)

Eating Disorders Pocketbook

‘This book offers a well-written and reader-friendly summary of all the main points about eating disorders. One of the strengths of this book is that it is the first I have read that has been written purely as a resource for schools, and Knightsmith has demonstrated a clear understanding of the dilemmas from both student and staff perspectives. This is an excellent resource that takes an innovative approach to an area that would benefit from greater prominence.’ (Nasen, Special)

Effective Classroom Communication Pocketbook

‘Full of sound advice and practical tips presented in an easily digestible form. It would be valuable for those investigating strategies to ensure high levels of pupil learning and motivation.’ (Special Needs Information Press)

Form Tutor’s Pocketbook

‘This is a good concise introduction to a little-recognised but ubiquitous secondary school role.’ (TES)

Gifted & Talented Pocketbook

‘ If you want a treasure chest of ideas and strategies for developing a whole school policy which creates giftedness – then Barry Hymer’s Pocketbook is an ideal text that doesn’t waste a single word! The book, which actually does fit a pocket nicely, is a summary of key ideas with regard to the field of gifted education, and it is the ideal starting place for discussions with teachers and parents. I would also recommend using it as the stimulus for discussion and research with young teachers in training. . . it is a text that focuses on creating exciting learning opportunities for all pupils, and it is also a clever and succinct summary of the most important ideas.

It’s no mean feat to condense big ideas into such small spaces!’ (Gifted Education International)

‘The miniature format is immediately appealing, accurately conveying the impression that the book is easy and quick to read. Clear layout and design, cartoon illustrations and subtle humour are combined in a really clever way to engage the reader. This is not to suggest,however, that the content is lightweight. Barry Hymer is well known in the G&T world and has used his considerable expertise to bring together challenging and invigorating ideas about how to make good provision for our most able children and young people. .. It’s definitely worth buying.’ (Gifted & Talented Update)

Head of Department’s Pocketbook

‘Likely to prove an indispensable text for its target audience, upon whom much of the pressure of school improvement falls.’ (TES)

‘If you’re thinking about taking on subject responsibility, a good source of ideas is Brin Best and Will Thomas’s Head of Department’s Pocketbook. You’ll find helpful advice in a reassuringly compact format.’ (TES)

Learning to Learn Pocketbook

‘…Learning to Learn in the always useful Teachers’ Pocketbooks series is entirely made up of them [good practical ideas]. Tom Barwood’s book covers familiar ground: mind maps; learning styles; mnemonics; note-making and so on. It’s lively, short, well divided into sections and has useful illustrations. As well as referring to it yourself, you could well use many of the ideas with a tutor group or exam class.’ (TES)

Literacy Across the Curriculum Pocketbook

‘A great little book, which will offer teachers a variety of opportunities to incorporate all
aspects of literacy across the curriculum… … It is an excellent book to lead staff discussion
in the development of literacy across the curriculum as the activities can be hand-picked to
match the needs of the school, as well as individual cohorts.’ (Headteacher Update)

Managing Workload Pocketbook

‘…full of practical and friendly ideas for avoiding stress, developing sensible attitudes, acquiring good habits and controlling time… The advice is firmly based in classroom reality.’ (TES)

Primary Teacher’s Pocketbook

‘At the core of the book is a list of “21 great ideas”. They’re all good…’ (TES)

Restorative Justice Pocketbook

‘This is a tardis of a book: small enough to slip in a back pocket; ideas big enough to revolutionise your relationships, your class, your school, your community… This slim volume has a crystal clear sense of purpose and readership… Readable in an hour, worth reflecting on for far longer, this book is an ideal introduction to RJ for the uninitiated and a helpful practical aide memoire for practitioners fortunate enough to work in a setting already using RJ approaches. Any school looking to develop its behaviour policy should read this book before churning out yet another county-clone document. Any reflective and open-minded reader will be left with a vision of the possible and with the book’s central message ringing in their ears: in the end, it’s the relationships that matter.’
(TES Connect)

Speech, Language & Communication Pocketbook

‘The Speech, Language & Communication Pocketbook adds to the excellent Teachers’Pocketbook range – the focus on classroom practitioners and practical classroom tips makes it an invaluable book in the inclusive school environment. Every school should have at least one copy and make it accessible for all classroom practitioners.’ (Nasen, Special)

‘…This books achieves a good balance and offers very practical tips without an overload of theory. It details the main areas of difficulties and makes direct links between those and the relevant strategies. It fits well with the current SEN code of practice and the responsibility schools have to take on the planning and managing of SLCN at all levels with specialist support from external agencies. It asks the fundamental questions, provides concrete answers and is jargon ‘friendly’. This ticks a lot of boxes!’ (NAPLIC)

‘…a recent addition to the excellent Teachers’ Pocketbooks series. …concise, practical and well tested activities for non-specialists to use to support each type of language difficulty. The format is simple, readable and accessible with slick graphics and brief case studies. The content really hits the spot…’ (Patoss Bulletin)

Teaching Assistant’s Pocketbook

‘This is an excellent book for the new and not so new teaching assistant in both primary and secondary schools.’ (Nasen Special)